Hohlgangsanlage 8
| Hohlgangsanlage 8 | |
|---|---|
| German Underground Hospital | |
| Part of Atlantic Wall | |
| Jersey | |
Entrance to Ho8
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.svg) .svg)
Flag of Germany 1933–45
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| Coordinates | 49°12′37″N 2°09′15″W / 49.2103°N 2.1542°WCoordinates: 49°12′37″N 2°09′15″W / 49.2103°N 2.1542°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Restored, museum & memorial to slave labourers |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941–1945 |
| Built by | Organisation Todt |
| In use | 1941–45 |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, and timber |
| Events | Occupation of the Channel Islands |
Hohlgangsanlage 8 (often abbreviated to Ho8, also known as the German Underground Hospital or the Jersey War Tunnels) was a partially completed underground hospital complex in St. Lawrence, Jersey, built by German occupying forces during the occupation of Jersey during World War II. Over 1 km (1,100 yd) of tunnels were completed. After the liberation of the Channel Islands, the complex was converted into a museum detailing the occupation and remains a visitor attraction.
After Hitler's October 1941 order to fortify the Channel Islands (as part of the Atlantic Wall), work began on a string of fortifications all around Jersey. Ho8 was intended to be a vast network of underground tunnels that would allow the German occupying infantry to withstand Allied air raids and bombardment (in preparation for an invasion). Forced labourers from the Organisation Todt (as well as paid labourers and skilled workers) were shipped in to Jersey and put to work building the complex. Many of the workers were Polish, French, Russian or Republican Spaniards. Conditions were terrible, although Russian and Ukrainian POWs were treated the worst, with cases of malnutrition, death by exhaustion and disease among them becoming common. On the other hand, the voluntary workers often had much better conditions, being offered over four times the wages that they would have earned working in similar jobs for the States of Jersey, and often receiving extra food rations.
In late 1943, with the threat of an Allied invasion of Europe (Operation Overlord) becoming clear, Ho8 was to be converted into a casualty clearing station and emergency hospital. The hospital had 500 beds for patients, with a full heating and air conditioning system (although the rest of the tunnel complex usually maintained a constant temperature of about 17 °C (63 °F), due to its being built deep into the hillside). A system of gas-proof doors was installed to maintain a clean airflow in the tunnels, and a fully equipped operating theatre was installed. Unfinished tunnels were sealed off.
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